By Stella Odueme
West African countries and regional stakeholders have begun high-level deliberations on strengthening water governance, transboundary cooperation and sustainable financing as the region prepares for its first-ever Regional Water Forum.
The discussions began on Tuesday, with the opening of the 13th Ordinary Session of the Technical Experts Committee of the Permanent Framework for Coordination and Monitoring of Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) in Abidjan.
The meeting brings together representatives of ECOWAS Member States, regional institutions, development partners and civil society organisations to review progress in regional water resources management and develop recommendations for the 6th Ordinary Session of the Ministerial Monitoring Committee.
The deliberations are also part of preparations for the First West Africa Regional Water Forum (FREAO), scheduled for September 24 and 25 in Abidjan under the theme, “Valuing Water to Transform West Africa.”
The forum is expected to provide a platform for ministers, technical experts, development partners and other stakeholders to address key challenges confronting the region's water sector, including transboundary water cooperation, sustainable financing and implementation of regional water policies.
Opening the technical session, Conservateur Général Elvire-Joëlle Zouzou épouse Mailly, who represented Côte d’Ivoire’s Minister of Water and Forests, Jacques Assahoré Konan, emphasised the importance of coordinated action in managing the region's water resources.
Representing ECOWAS, the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) and the Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS), the Director of the ECOWAS Water Resources Management Centre, Mr. Kouassi Kouakou Alexis, highlighted integrated water resources management as a critical instrument for regional integration, resilience and sustainable development.
The session is being chaired by Senegal through Dr. Bacary Fatty, while the President of the Sub-Regional Consultative Council on Water Resources (CRCE), Dr. Boluwaji Onobolu, called for greater involvement of civil society, women and young people in regional water governance.
The technical experts are expected to adopt recommendations for consideration by the 6th Ordinary Session of the Ministerial Monitoring Committee.
Those recommendations will also feed into discussions at FREAO, which is expected to set priorities for the next phase of water governance in West Africa and reinforce regional efforts towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 on clean water and sanitation.